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widened by about two inches, seeming now to reach
almost from ear to ear as the clanging voice continued to proceed from it.
    ‘Let
the sister beware of false friends and materialistic advice. The letter killeth
but the spirit giveth life. What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole
world and loseth his soul?’
    ‘He was
so well-read in the Bible,’ said Mrs. Flower, weeping.
    The
large pink-faced newcomer announced aloud, ‘I am going to give clairvoyance.’
    ‘No,’
Freda whispered, though all could hear, ‘I feel, somehow, this is genuine after
all. I’d like to think it all over—’
    The
newcomer shouted above Patrick’s din, ‘Nevertheless, I am going to give
clairvoyance.’
    Ewart
came over to him again and said, ‘Are you a trained clairvoyant? I’ve warned
you about the danger to the medium of interruption.’
    ‘I am a
trained and authentic clairvoyant,’ said Freda’s friend.
    ‘Guide
Gabi,’ Patrick clanged on, ‘is about to give the initials of the spirit in the
Harris tweed suit. The initials are W.F.’
    ‘William!’
said Freda.
    ‘I am a
trained clairvoyant,’ shouted Freda’s friend. ‘And I hereby give notice that I
am about to give clairvoyance to the medium in the chair.’
    ‘Señor
Gabi speaking,’ Patrick clanged; ‘I hereby give notice that I reinforce the
warnings given by the aforesaid spirit whose initials are W. F. to the sister
among our members. These warnings can only be disregarded at the utmost peril
to the sister whose name resembles a plant.’
    The man
beside Freda had thrown back his head and lifted his hands to his temples.
    ‘No,
Mike!’ Freda moaned.
    ‘I see,’
bellowed Mike Garland to the ceiling, ‘I see the medium in the public court,
under a charge of fraud. I see the so-called medium exposed. I see—’
    A small
rustling hubbub had arisen amongst the audience.
    ‘Señor
Gabi speaking,’ came the voice from Patrick. ‘There is a hostile spirit among
us who may cause infinite harm to—’
    ‘Patrick
Seton, you are a fraud,’ boomed Mike to the ceiling. ‘And I challenge you, if Señor
Gabi is an authentic guide, to give the initials of my name.’
    The
small rustle amongst the audience immediately became a hush.
    ‘Señor
Gabi speaking: the first initial of the hostile spirit is M.’
    ‘You
are a fraud. You heard Mrs. Flower calling me Mike,’ boomed Mike. ‘What is the
second initial?’
    Foam
appeared at Patrick’s mouth and bubbled for a few seconds.
    Ewart
murmured, ‘This is dangerous to him. We must stop it.’
    ‘The
second initial,’ Mike shouted.
    ‘The
second initial,’ came the clang, ‘is G.’
    ‘He’s
right! ‘said Mrs. Flower. ‘Oh, Mike, I’ve been mistaken.’
    ‘You
are a fraud,’ shouted Mike. ‘You have heard my name. You heard Mrs. Flower
introducing me to a member.’
    Patrick
dribbled from the mouth and his head drooped with exhaustion, and the water
from his mouth dripped down his coat. His eyes closed.
    Ewart
called out, ‘This disruption must cease. The clairvoyant will kindly leave the
séance room.’
    But
Mike, with his hands to his temples and head thrown back, began to intone. ‘There
will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. I see the prisoner brought to judgment
and cast into outer darkness. There will be a trial. I see a young woman in
distress and an older woman justified. I see—’
    Patrick
cast up his eyes. ‘Guide Gabi warns the Circle of an evil influence present,’
he said. He lifted his head high and tossed it like a war horse.
    ‘You’ll
put him in a frenzy,’ Ewart shouted, and the audience began also to cry out
phrases like ‘Too bad,’ ‘Wicked,’ ‘An evil influence,’ and ‘Uncivilized.’
    The
room was in turmoil when Marlene flung wide the door. ‘What is this turmoil?’
she said, trembling with the impatience she had been repressing throughout her
service-hatch vigil. She then switched on the lights.
    The
noise ceased except for a sobbing sound from